Dowel and shear plate installing device for road building machines



7 A ril 23, 1946., J. N. HELTZEL DOWEL AND SHEAR PLATE INSTALLING DEVICE FOR ROAD BUILDING MACHINES Fild Aug. 26, 1942 Y Patented Apr. 23, 1946 iUNlTED STATES PATENT orrlcs DOWEL aNn snl li fi intrn DEVICE FOR ROAD John- N. Heltzel, warrem ohio Application August 26, lsia-jseriallvo. 456,279

is Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in dowel and shear plate installing devices for road building machines, and is a continuation in part of m co-pending application Serial Number 309,257, filed December 14, 1939, which has developed into Patent No. 2,295,947, granted September 15, 1942. l v

The invention constitutes certain improvements over my prior'Patent No. 1,996,153, granted April 2, 1935.

The invention has for its general purpose to secure a number of results, either singly or in combination; for instance, one, to install dowel rods orbars in plastic concrete for the purpose of tying together adjacent slabs of a concrete road; two, to install dowel bars in the slabs adjacent the division lines between the slabs, or at any other points, either alone or in combination with shear plates; three, to install joint producing members, and the subsequent joints, in'theroad between the slabs, or more properly speaking, to. define lthe lines of division or the cleavage lines upon which theconcrete later breaks to divide the road into adjoining independent slabs which may expand and contract individually and without reference to the road as a monolithic whole.

' A primary object of the invention is to utilize the force of vibratory action or vibration in such relationto an installing device as to' secure from the vibratory action alone the downward penetration of the device into the recentlydeposited plastic concrete of the roadway; it being understood that such device may force downwardly before it the dowel rods, shear plate assemblies, and the joint producing member, any or all of them. j 1 Another object of the invention is to takeincidental" advantage of the installing device, derived out of it's vibrating motion, to compact,- condense, de-aerate and generally settle the concrete mass 'into'a' more homogeneous road structure without Voids and generally of great strength and resistance to traffic wear. l

The invention also has for its further object t improve the constructions illustrated and described in my prior patent and application more said to the end generally that the force of vibration may have freer play upon the installing device without interfering with its vertical adinstability; V I

A still further object of the invention is to provide for improved thrust and penetration factors in the installing device and to efiect improved dis tribution and applicationci the vibratory action to the device,

. Asti'll further object of the invention resides in providing'ah' im roved construction of shear plate assembly and of an installing device com plemental thereto to efiect placement of the assembly in a specified central location in the concrete roadway to achieve greatly improved results intying the adjacent slabs together, preventing their relative movement, and reinforcing andfstrengthenirig the adjacent faces of such slabs? With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention will be more fully described herein'afterand more pamicularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawingiin which like or corresponding reference charactersdehote the same or similar parts throughout the several views,

Figural is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of plastic concrete road under construction illustrating a ion'n of the improved installing device constructed in accordance with the present invention. i 1 Figure 2' is a vertical section taken on the line 24in Figure 1. i i I Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modifiedform of installing device and illustl'atifig a difieleht follfl of shear plate assembly.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken through a device like Figure 3 with a modified form of shear plate wing.

Figure 5 is a vertical section-taken through the adjacent portions'of two concrete road slabs illustratirig the relative position of the shear plate assemblies therein..

Fi'gure dis a cross section through the wings of the shear plate showing a further modification oi'the shear plate wings.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l0 designates the side forms which are elected in thec'l'lstomary manner on the subgrade and between which the plastic concrete H is poured by the mixer or in" any other suitable manner.

In'accordance with usual practice the mixer is followed by one or more machines for performing certain. operations upon the plastic concrete such for instance as leveling, screeding, surfacing and finishing. 7

These machines are equipped with wheels which roll upon the side forms H! as rails. 'Such machines are well known in the art and constitute traveling carriages or bridges which transversely span the roadway and aiiord suspension support for workmenand; the implements of their operatiph'. V "In Figure 1 the side rail of one of suchbridges The internal threads of nut blocks I'I mate a with the external threads upon the screw sup porting rods I8, of which there are preferably two, one at each end of thefinstalling device. These screw reds I8 may be conveniently rotated by hand wheels I9 afiixed to the upper portions thereof whereby the rods I8 may move up and down in a generally vertical direction through the nut blocks I! which are permitted to" rotate on the trunnions IE but are otherwise substan tially fixed as to travel or translation except for the limited movement permitted by the lengths of slots I5.

The lower ends of the rods I8 are secured by pivots 28 in spaced upstanding lugs or cars N which are afilxed to the mandrel 2.2. This mandrel is advantageously constituted by a horizontal flat beam of metal or other suitable material from the central portion of which downwardly projects a substantially vertical web or flange 23. Such web or flange 23, and if desired the mandrel 22, penetrates the plastic concrete, the web 23 carrying downwardly therewith a V- shaped metallic joint producing member 24.

The mandrel 22 carries cross-wise affixed thereto a number of Outriggers 25 which are spaced apart along the length of the mandrel 2.2 and project mutually to opposite sides of said mandrel- At the outer end portions of the outriggers 25 depend legs 26 oia length to extend below the lowest point of the flange or web 23, and such legs 28 carry claws or crows-feet 21 preferably having a spring action with flaring open lower jaws to receive upwardly thereinto by a forcing action the dowel rods 28. These dowel rods are long enough to extend from one slab into the other and from one to the other of each leg of an outrigger cross-wise beneath the web or flange 23.

These dowel rods 28 may or may not support shear plates 29, with or without wings 30 which embed themselves in the concrete to hold the shear plates against shifting.

In a substantially central position of the mandrel 22 is a gravity weight 3! and placed on the mandrel 22 Q1 directly upon the Outriggers are vibrators 32. One or more vibrators may be used but the two vibrators in the positions noted at opposite sides of a central heavy weight 3| and spaced from the end supporting screw rods I8 will providean effective distribution of the vibratory action tending to promote homogeneity throughout the plastic concrete mass in and about the separation line between adjacent slabs where strengthof concrete, absence of voids and compaction are requisites.

In the operation of the device, with the dry mixes used today it is important that installation of dowels, shear platesand joint forming and producing members follow the deposit of the concrete of the sub-grade without undue delay. For this reason the device has been confined to small compass to make it available for a mounting upon any of thebridges, carriages or road finishing machines now generally employed.

It is to be noted that in the present device there is no reciprocating motion imparted lengthwise to the mandrel 22 as in the case of my prior co-pending application aforesaid.

Differing from the co-pending application is the slotted support :5 which allows the blocks II to descend with respect to supporting standards ,I3and the carriage I2 along with the screw rods I8,the mandrel 22 and the parts supported thereby. This enables the mandrel 22 with its inherent and superposed weights to rest freely upon the plastic concrete mass and to move downwardly by gravitational force into the plastic concrete. In this it is materally aided by the vibration communicated by the vibrators 32. The freedom of the mandrel and the parts carried thereby, the weight thereof and the vibrationcommunicated thereto all combine to cause the descent of the various parts against the resistance of the plastic concrete, by which the dowel rods, shear plates and joint producing member 24 are all required to penetrate into the concrete the desired distance. Itwill be noted that the lengths of slots 15 are limited whereby the adjustability through the rotation of screw shafts I8 is still had. With the pin I6 at the bottom of slots I5 the screws I8 may be rotated anti-clockwise to lift the mandrel and its entrained parts out of the concrete. Rotation of the screws I8 clockwise will force the mandrel down into the concrete, although rigid reaction to this penetration may not be'had until the pins I6 move up into the upper ends of the slots I5. As soon as the pins I5 reach the bottoms of'slots I5, the screw shafts l8 may be given a few turns anti-clockwise to raise the pins I6 to avoid such pins interferingwith the weight and vibration action of penetration.

The mandrel 22 is caused to descend until the dowels 28 are in the position 28 in Figure l at which time the joint producing V-plate 24 will be in the upper portion of the concrete with the upper edges of the V-plate substantially flush with the surface of the concrete road. This V-plate may extend between adjoining shear plates 29 to space the shear plates for positioning in opposite slabs. A limit stop on the vibratory and weight penetrating movement occurs from the pins I6 encountering the lower walls of slots I5; or this delimiting action may be had by the end portions of the mandrel 22 encountering the upper ends of the side forms III. The purpose of the stop is to cause the dowel pins to assume'a substantially central postion 28 within the vertical depth of the plastic concrete. The weight Si in the intermediate portionof the mandrel adds downward thrust tending to equal ize the downward force at the ends of the mandrel which result from the weight of the rods l8 and blocks I1 and also from the downward thrust produced by these parts. s

After the mandrel has attained its lowermost position and been stopped by the delimiting stop arrangement, the vibration may be continued for some time if desired to compact the surrounding concrete, to eliminate voids or air pockets and in general to strengthen the concrete structure, after which the device is raised, as by use of the hand wheels I9. The groove-forming strip 24, the shear plates 29 and the dowels 28 are left groove in which either a prcform dloint strip is inserted or tar or the like may be poured into such groove. This produces a plane of Weakness, as indicated in Figure 5, below which the concrete cracks as indicated at 31 to definethecleavage or joint line between the two adjacent slabs.

Referring more particularly to Figures 3, 4 and 5, similar parts are similarly numbered. In this instance the outriggers 25 each carryat their outer ends T-heads 33 from which downwardly depend legs 26 26 26 and 26 Such legs differ'invertical length and carry at their lower ends crows-feet or claws '21- at various elevations. A pairiof spaced shear plates 29* are riveted together asby the rivet 34 and carry wings 30 30 3W v and 30 The wings-of each shear plate extend up and down-in relative divergent relation which causes them to assume varying elevations. The lengths of. the legs of the outriggers .correspond to these elevations in order thatthe claws 21 may engage all of the-wings so as to force the shear plates and the wings as an assembly down into the plastic concrete to the proper depth or elevation. The shear plates 29 receive therebetween pusher plates 35 carri'ed bylthe lower edge of the joint plate 24 and have notches 36 therein to receive the rivets 34.

.In operation, the mandrel of this form of the invention is driven down by its combined weight and vibration and may be adjusted as in the other cases. In moving down the pusher plates 35 and the claws 2'! push the shear plate assemblyrdown into the plastic concrete. Such pusher plates 35 constitute. gauges byreason of their vertical heightswto cause the rivets 34 to arrive ata substantially central position of the height of the plastic concrete. This enables the joint to be formed above and clear of the shear plates and their rivet; whereas the divergent wings extend up and down into all vertical zones of the slabs. These wings, embedded with large surface areas in contact with the concrete, will avoid the rotation, twisting or, distortion and displacement of the shear .plates. The rivets 34 will serve to tie the slabs together, the concrete cracking below the joint as indicated at 31 in Figure 5. a

After the, device has arrived at its lowermost positionand, is stopped by the stop means heretofore referred to, or such other stop means as may be provided, the mandrel is lifted, leaving the shear plate assemblies in the concrete in the. position indicated in Figure 5, the gauge plates.35 and the claws 21 easily lifting off such assemblies. V

In Figure lthe supports 40 for the vibrators 32 have parts 4| which extend down and are joined integrally or otherwise to the longitudinal bar 22, for the purpose of carrying the vibration down directly to the bar.

In Figure 1 one of the clamps 21 of each pair is carried fixedly by the leg 26, while the other clamps is carried movably by an arm 42 pivoted to the leg 26 at 43. The arms 42 are all pivoted to a rod 44 so that all the movable jaws or clamps 45 are released by manipulating the rod 44.

Sleeves 46 are associated with the dowel bars in accordance with standard practice.

In Figure 4 openings 41 are made in the wings to permit the concrete to pass through.

In Figure 6 the wings and 30 are shown as reversely curved.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of'this inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restrictedsonly by thescope of the following claimsi Whatis cl'aimedisi I 1. In a device of "the character described, a mandrel, lost-motion adjusting and thrustm'eans bearing on the end portions of the mandrel, gravity weight means imposed on the central portion oftthe mandrel, and vibrators at opposite sides of said weight means for communicating vibratory force to said mandrel. a

I 2. In an installing device of the kind described, a vertically movable mandrel, adjusting means for adjusting and supporting the mandrel from a support, a lost-motion connection between said mandrel and adjusting and supporting means, weight means imposed upon an intermediate portion-of the mandrel, and vibrators mounted in vibratory relation-to said mandrel, one at each side of the weight mean and disposed in spaced relation to said adjusting and supporting means.

3. In an installing device of the character described, a mandrel having means for forcing a joint producing member downwardly into plastic concrete, vibratory meansfor communicating vibration to said mandrel and through the first means to said joint producing member, and a free floating supporting means for the mandrel adapted" to allow the combined action of the vibratory means and the weight of the mandrel to force themandr'el down into thefplastic' concrete without interference from "said supporting means.

p 4. In'an installing, device of the character described, a mandrel, means'carried by the mandrel for engaging dowel bars to force the same downwardly into the plastic concrete, vibratory means for'vibrating said mandrel and the dowel bars, and free floating supporting means for the mandrel tofreely support the mandrel upon the plastic concrete. V

5.v In an installing device of the character described, a mandrel, means for subjecting said mandrel to vibrato'ry for'ce, lost-motion means for adjustably supporting said mandrel, and stop means for restricting the downward movement of the mandrel into the plastic concrete.

'6. Inan installing. evice. of the character described, a mandrel adapted to move down substantially vertically into the recently deposited plastic concrete, substantially vertical lost-motion means for supporting and adjusting said mandrel having aconnection to the mandrel to permit the'lmandrel tohave a limited movement along a, horizontal component, and vibrator means for subjecting the mandrel to vibratory action.

7. In a device of the kind described, a mandrel, vibrator means for vibrating said mandrel, supporting means pivotally connected to said mandrel, and an adjusting couple entrained with said supporting means, and supports for one of the members of said couple pivotally receiving said member on an axis substantially parallel with the pivotal axis of the connection between the mandrel and supporting means, said member and its support having a lost-motion substantially vertical connection therebetween.

8. For use with a shear plate assembly havin connecting means between the shear plates, a substantially V-sh-aped groove producing member having projecting downwardly from its lower closed portion spaced notched pusher plates for engaging freely over the connecting means of the assemblies, and means to force the V-shaped grocve producing member down into the plastic concrete.

9. For use with a shear plate assembly in which adjacent shear plates are tied togetherin spaced relation by a connecting means and in which the shear plates have divergently projecting wings extending respectively upwardly and downwardly in adjacent slabs of the concrete roadway, a grooveforming member movable downwardly in the plastic concrete having parts to engage between the shear plates and with the connecting means thereof, an operative member separate from the groove forming member for forcing said first named member downwardly into the plastic concrete, and claw means carried by said. operative member for detachably engaging the outer portions of the divergent wings. j

10. For use with a shear plate assembly in which adjacent shear plates are tied together in spaced relation by a connecting means and in which the shear plates have divergently projecting wings extending respectively upwardly and downwardly in adjacent slabs of the concrete roadway, a groove-forming member movable downwardly in the plastic concrete having parts to engage between the shear plates and with the connecting means thereof, an operative member separate from the groove-forming member for forcing said first named member downwardly into the plastic concrete, clawv means carried by said operative member for detachably engaging the outer portions of the divergent wings, and means for vibrating the operative means.

11. For use with a shear plate assembly in which adjacent shear plates are tied together in spaced relation by a connecting means and, in which the shear plates have divergently proj ecting wings extending respectively upwardly and downwardly in adjacent slabs of the concrete roadway, a member movable downwardly in the plastic concrete having parts to engage between the shear plates and with the connecting means thereof, an operative member for forcing said first named member downwardly into the plastic concrete, claw means carried by said operative member for detachably engaging the outer portions of the divergent wings, vibratory means for imposing vibratory force on said operative member, and lost-motion supporting and adjusting members connected with the end portions of said operative member.

12. A joint installing device comprising a supporting structure, a joint installing member, means to vibrate said member, means for suspending said member from said supporting structure, said last named means includingslotted means between the supporting structure and said suspending means.

l3. A'joint installing device comprising a supporting structure, a joint installing member, means" to. directly vibrate said member, and a suspending and pressure device coupled between said supporting structure and said member and including pins and slots.

, 14. A joint installing device as claimed in claim 13 in which the slots are arranged in the direction of penetration of the installing device and said pins travel back and forth in said slots.

15. A joint installing device as claimed in claim 13 characterized by the fact that the slots are elongated in the direction of penetration of said joint installing member and the pins are slidable in said slots with the end walls of the slots forming stop means for said pins.

16. A joint installing device comprising a groove-forming strip retaining and aligning member, dowel bar spacing and retaining means carried by said member to support the bars transversel of and under the strip, means for lowering the member to cause the strip and bars to 3 rest on plastic concrete, means for vibrating said with a groove forming strip in the plastic concrete of a road under construction, vibrating means cooperating with said installing meansto urge said strip and bars into the plastic concrete and to solidify the plastic concrete mass about the strip and bars, and means for engaging and disengaging the bars and strip.

18. A joint installing device comprising a mov able frame adapted to move over a roadway under construction and constructed and arranged to span said roadway, a joint retaining and aligning member carried by said frame, upwardly pro jecting housings on the frame to suspend said aligning member over the plastic concrete, means carried in said housings and having a lost motion connection therewith for both suspending said member and for lowering the member to the concrete, means for vibrating said member, said lost motion connection minimizing the vibrations from said member through said housings to said frame.

JOHN N. HEL'IZEL. 

